Sheriff: Man charged for on-duty sex act

A Cleveland County Sheriff's Office deputy was arrested and charged Monday, according to Sheriff Alan Norman.

Norman said John Franklin Robbins, 24, is charged with felony crime against nature after engaging in a sex act with an unidentified woman.

Norman said Robbins was on duty at the time.

A captain at the sheriff's office received a complaint Nov. 23 about a deputy, Norman said, and within days the professional standards division began an investigation.

On Nov. 27, Robbins, who lives in Kings Mountain, was terminated.

He was arrested and charged on Monday, according to the sheriff's office.

Norman said Robbins was booked into the Cleveland County Detention Center with a $10,000 unsecured bond.

He was not listed as an inmate Monday, and the sheriff's office was not able to provide a mug shot.

The Star was not able to get in touch with Robbins in time for this story.

Robbins was hired by the sheriff's office on Aug. 16, Norman said. Norman said an official employee photo of Robbins had not yet been taken.

"It's unfortunate that situations like this occur, but employees of the sheriff's office are held to higher standards," Norman said. "It's something that we, the administration of the sheriff's office, try to instill...along with the highest standard of professionalism and moral character."

The professional standards division investigates every complaint received by the sheriff's office and, once received, it is investigated to the fullest extent, Norman said.

"If it's discovered during the investigation that a crime occurred, then the employee is terminated and will face criminal charges," he said.

Norman said the decision to press charges was not an easy one.

"When things like this happen, it does sting," he said. "It's my philosophy that we run the sheriff's office as open as possible to the public and regardless of how good or how bad it may seem at the time, I'm going to do what's best for the public and for the agency."

Reach reporter Rebecca Clark at 704-669-3344 or rclark@shelbystar.com or follow on Twitter @TheStarRebecca.